Bookstore opens new chapter in Evanston

Donald Liebenson

The closing of antiquarian book store Bookman's Alley last year was a sad chapter in the literary life of the North Shore. But it wasn't the final chapter. Last month, Bookends & Beginnings, a new independent bookstore, opened in the Bookman's Alley space, 1712 Sherman Ave.

The opening is a realization of a dream long deferred. Nina Barrett, who co-owns the bookshop with her husband, Jeffrey Garrett, first felt the urge to open an independent bookstore in 1985 when she came to Evanston from New York to pursue her masters degree at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

"It puzzled me there was no kind of funky college-y bookstore in downtown Evanston," she said in a joint interview with her husband. "Opening a bookstore is, along with opening a restaurant, one of the most common fantasies. It's something I had been thinking about ever since."

The rise of chain bookstores and online bookselling compelled Nina and Jeffrey to put their nascent dream on hold. Opening their own store in 2014, though, is not the leap of faith some might suspect. According to Dan Cullen, a spokesman for the American Booksellers Association, 45 new member independent bookstores opened last year in 20 states.

"A number of established stores are expanding and opening in new locations, as a whole new generation of younger booksellers are continuing to join the ranks," Cullen wrote in an email.

Nina, who has a background in publishing and has written four books (three of which were published by Simon & Schuster), estimates she has worked with independent bookstores on and off for 15 years. Jeffrey, now retired, was an academic research librarian at Northwestern University for 19 years. He specialized in international children's books.

One of the joys of independent bookstores is that each uniquely reflects the personalities of its owner. Among the mix of new, used and bargain books at Bookends & Beginnings is a cooking section that Nina calls her pride and joy. A two-time James Beard Award-winner for her WBEZ show, "Fear of Frying," Nina has curated a "destination" selection of cookbooks, ranging from Yotam Ottolenghi to small-press neighborhood and regional offerings, such as the Ravinia Festival's "Noteworthy" cookbook.

"I find these fascinating for their historical and quirk value," Nina said.

Jeffrey's expertise is on display in the children's section, which is overseen by Glenda, a fiberglass giraffe purchased at auction. The store features an expansive selection of international children's books and Spanish-language books along with chapter books for pre-teen and young adult readers.

The bookstore also features a gallery of jewelry, sketchbooks, notebooks and other stationary and crafts. What you won't find here is a public wi-fi signal.

"People are spending so much time on their devices," Nina observed. "A book is a really intense personal relationship. You have to be willing to enter into that world and not be interrupted."

Some can't process that lack of connectivity. "A Northwestern student posted on our Facebook page, 'I see you are planning to withhold wi-fi,'" Nina laughed. "That was an interesting formulation; that anywhere we go, we expect that to be given to us.

"It's not like we're in a steel bunker," Nina said. "But it's counterproductive to say we don't mind if you come in and check your emails for three hours. That's not what we want you to do here."

Rather, Jeffrey said, Bookends & Beginnings "is like an athletic club of the mind.

"This bookstore is about enhancing a sense of community and creating a relationship not only between books and readers, but between readers and readers," Jeffrey said.

Plans are in the works for author appearances, dramatic readings and puppet theatre for children and adults.

Two pieces of artwork define the store. One is a quilt, a surprise gift presented to Jeffrey and Nina by family friend "and happy customer" Josh Chernoff.

"I am just a fan of interesting retail stores in Evanston," Chernoff said. "You know how stores have a lucky first dollar? This is the fabric equivalent of that."

The other is a framed poster of City Lights, the legendary San Francisco book store, that was presented to Jeffrey and Nina as a talisman by another bookstore owner whose own shop was forced to close. They also purchased the bookseller's wood shelving.

"We take a lot of inspiration from what other (independent bookstores) large and small have been able to accomplish," Jeffrey said.